Last week, the Local Government Association began to look at solutions to address the cash shortfall.This week's finance and efficiency focus looks at some possible answers. Below, Alex Plant suggests it is timely to reflect on tax increment financing (TIF.)

Considering the concept of tax increment financing (TIF) may not be exciting for those tasked with breathing life into local economies. It may appear more for the geekier end of policy-wonkdom than for real people trying to operate the levers of economic growth.